Man sets apartment on fire while 'trying to burn the bugs' out of his home

Man started the blaze to 'burn the bugs in his home and computer'

A man who burned down his apartment told police he started the fire to kill an infestation of bugs in his home.

The unidentified resident was so annoyed by the presence of the insects he tried to burn them out - destroying his apartment and hospitalising himself in the process.

He allegedly authorities he had started the fire to “to burn the bugs in his home and computer".

Orlando Police, who attended the scene, found his Florida home was littered with rubbish in all rooms, according to The Orlando Sentinel.

One officer described the conditions inside as “deplorable” in his police report. "There was trash and empty beer cans covering the majority of the floor in the living area and the kitchen," the officer said.

"The bedroom where most of the fire damage occurred was also filled with trash and cans."

Neighbours said they heard the 26-year-old man screaming for help inside his apartment, before breaking in through the front door and dragging him out.

"I am yelling at him and I hear him yelling 'Help,' but I felt like he couldn't hear me. He wasn't really responding," Leanna Boyer told WFTV. "I banged first, and then it didn't pop, and then I just smashed through (the glass)."

The man had to be taken to a nearby hospital to be treated for smoke inhalation.